Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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Most easy opening containers or cans provide the metal top with
a scored removable portion. A pull tab is attached to this portion. When
the tab is pulled, the scored portion is torn out and discarded leaving the
pouring opening. This presents a sharp-edged piece to dispose of. In another
version, the removable portion is replaceableO This reseals the opening.
It usually comprises an elongated plastic piece bonded to the scored portion ,~-~
of the pouring opening and a central air vent. A pull tab is used to remove
the piece and it can be snapped back for resealing. United States Patent -
No. 3,441,167, issued April 29, 1969, shows such a constructionO This de-
vice presents problems caused by the loss of the closure after its removal,
or tampering with the container on the shelf by opening and then resealing. j ~ ~
There is no indication that this has been done to the container. -
The present invention provides an important improvement over the
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art in that the scored section remains attached to the container after being
pulled from the pouring opening with the tab. ~ ;
According to the present invention there is provided a pull tab ~ I -
opener device for a container having a metal top comprising a score line
circumscribing a scored portion adapted to be removed from the top to form
an opening therein, a pull tab attached to said scored portion adjacent an
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outer edge thereof, and means for attaching an inner end of said scored
portion to the metal top of the container when the scored portion is ~
removed O ': ' `
In the drawings~
~igure 1 is a perspective view of a resealable container having an ;
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opener of ~he present invention;
Figure 2 is a top plan view of the container shown in Pigure l;
Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 2 showing the device in open
position;
Figure 4 is a longitudinal section through the device as shown in
Figure 2;
Figure 5 is a top plan view of a single opening container with a
device of the present invention;
Figure 6 is a view similar to Figure 5 with the device in open -
10 position;
Figure 7 is a longitudinal section of the device shown in Figure 5;
Figure 8 is a perspective view of a modified form of the device
shown in Figure 5;
Figure 9 is a top plan view of the container shown in Figure 8;
Figure lO is a longitudinal section of the device shown in Figure 8;
Pigure 11 is a top plan view of ano~her form of resealable container;
Figure 12 is a view similar to Figure 11 with the device in open
position;
Pigure 13 is a longitudinal sec~ion of the device shown in Figure
ll; and ~ ` -
Figure 14 is a perspective view of the closure member for the form
shown in Figure 11.
The present invention basically provides an easy opening container
in which the portion of the metal that is removed to form the opening remains
attached to the container a~d is not discarded independently thereof. Pig- ;
ures l to~4, inclusive9 show ths device applied to a resealable containcr.
Referring~to ~he drawings, a conventional metal container or can lO is pro-
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vided with an annular metal top 12. The top 12 is provided with a scored
section 14 which, when removed, leaves the pouring opening 16. In addi~ion,
the larger cans are also provided with a central opening 18 for an air vent. ~ -
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This opening 18 is also closed by a scored member 20.
The opening device comprises a plastic elongated strip 22 having
an elongated narrow body por~ion 24 and an integral broader end 26 which is
bonded to the scored secSion 14. Adjacent the-o~her end, the member 22 is
provided with an enlarged area 28 which is bonded to the air vent closure
20. Each end of the member 22 i5 provided with a pull tab extending inward-
ly, the pull tab 30 at the outer end and the pull tab 32 at the inner end.
The feature of the device comprises a pivot rivet 34 extending ~- --
through the member 22 and the top 12 to pivotally mount the member 22 on the
top. Now, when the tabs 30 and 32 are manually grasped and pulled up and
toward each other, ~he scored sections 14 and 20 will be removed with the
member 22. The entire assembly can then be pivoted into the position shown
in Figure 3, clearing the openings 16 and 18. The assembly can then be twis-
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ted back into the position shown in Figure 2 and the portions 14 and 20 pres-
sed back into place to reseal the can.
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The above construction thus eliminates any problems which may re-
sult ~rom the loss of the member 22 which remains attached to the can ater
opening, To prevent tampering, a seal may be provided to show when the can
has been opaned. Gne form of seal is illustrated in Figures 2 and 3. A
strip of plastic 36 is welded to the member 22 so that it extends out from
each side and is bonded to the can cover 12. The plastic 36 is provided
with perforations 38 along each side of the ~ember ~2, When the tabs are
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pulled upwardly to open the can, the plastic will tear along the perforations
leaving the torn edges 40 as a telltale indicator that She tab has been open- -
ed. Other orms of seals may also be used.
The attachment to the can cover of the removable portion of the
opener is illus~rated in a simple single opening can in Figures 5, 6 and 7.
In ~his form the can top 42 is provided with the usual scored portion 44 cov-
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ering the opening 46. As in all such consSructions, a pull tab 48 is mounted
aS ~he outer end of the portion 44 so that pulling ~he tab will tear the por-
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~ tion 44 from the can and reveal the opening 46. In aecordance with the pre-
- sent invention, I provide a pivot member 50, which may be metal or plastic,
ha~ing one end pivotally riveted to the cen~er of the can at 52. The other
end of ~he member 50 overlies the inner end of the scored portion 44 at 54
and is attached to it by bonding, gluing, riveting, or snap fasgening. The
member 50 may he scored adjacent the pivot 52 for easy banding, if desired.
Now, when the tab 48 is pulled upwardly to tear the section 44
from the can top 42, it will remain pivotally attached to the can top and
can be swung to one side, Figure 6, to allow pouring or drinking. When the
can is discarded, the tab and scored section is not discarded separately but
remain attached to the can.
Figures 8, 9 and lO illustrate this construction in a single open-
ing resealable can. The can 56 is provided with the metal top 58 having
the scored portion 60 for opening the can, An elongated pivot member 62 has
its inner end riveted to at 64 to the center of the top and extends across
the top to completely cover the s~ored portion 60. The member 62 is bonded
to the portion 60 and the pull tab 66 is attached by passing the rivet 68
through both the member 62 and the portion 60. When the tab is pulled to
tear the portion 60 from the top, it remains at~ached to the member 62. It
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can thus be swung out of the way, as shown in do~ted lines in Figure 9, ~r
bent back, to permit pouring or drinking. I~ can then be swung back and
`~ snapped into the opening to reseal the ca~. The seal arrangement shown in
~, Figures 2 and 3 may be used ~o discourage tampering with the can. The ~ab
66 may also be const~ucted as illustrated so that it is sharply bent at 70 ~ :
,~ to snap over the edge of the can. This will hold it in place in resealing ~ -
or in open position. The tab lS elongated at 72 to permi~ the six pack car- -
~ ton to grasp ~he can without interference.
`, The arrangement shown in Flgures ll to 14 is a modified version
of the singlo opening resealable can providing a sanitary drinking area. The
can top 74 is provided with a scored portion 76 for forming the opening
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78, A generally triangular base plastic member 82 is bonded to the top of
the can 74 and has a cut out portion 80 aligned with ~he portion 76 to expose
the scored portion. At the edge, the member 82 thins down to form a plastic
coating over the edge of the can a~ 84. When the can is used for drinking,
the mouth will touch the plastic coat 84 rather than the metal of the can.
; The closure member, Fi~ure 14, comprises a triangular member 86 ~ `
attached at the apex 88 to the can topJ Figure 13. It is provided with a
double ~hickness 90 shaped to fit into the opening 80 and to bond to ~he
top of the scored portion 76, The member 86 has a thin inverted U-shaped
edge 92 for snapping over the plastic edge 84 in closed position. The pull
tab 94 is attached under the portion 86 to a rive~ 96 which passes through the
tab, scored portion, and member 86. If desired, the tab 94 can be imbedded
in tha member 86 for a more sanltary arrangement. The tab is also elongated
to avoid interference with the six paok carton. Whsn the tab is lifted, it
will lift the member 86 and tear the portion 76 from the top. The assembly
can be swung to one side, dotted lines in Figure 12, and can be swung back and
-~ snapped in to reseal the can. This form may also be provided with a tell~ale
~1 seal such as shown in Figure 2 to prevent tampering.
In all of the forms, the portion of the con~ainer or can which is
torn ou~ ~o form the pouring or drinking opening remains attached to the can
top. The same is true of the resealable can with one or ~wo openings. Pro-
vision is also made for a seal ~o indica~e tha~ the can has been opened to
prevent~tampering. Other advantages of the present invention will be readily
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apparent to a person skilled iL the art.
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